There is no iPhone killer.

With that out of the way, the new Motorola Droid is recommended to almost any smart phone shopper. It’s not going to outsell or render obsolete Apple Inc.’s device. But it’s competitive, combining neat technology with the reliable Verizon Wireless 3G network.

The Droid lives up to its name. Here’s a rundown:

Screen: It’s astoundingly sharp, with much higher resolution than most phones, and text and pictures redefine the word “crisp.”

OS: The latest version of Google’s Android operating system feels polished and sturdy. There are tons of apps, and the new Google Maps Navigation GPS software works great. It’s undeniably cool to just speak your destination into the microphone and see it pop up on the screen.

Browsing: The Web browser is zippy and responsive, and adding e-mail is a cinch. With a handful of apps running, the system never bogged down.

Media: The music app is acceptable. Motorola doesn’t have an iTunes-like program to manage tunes, but there is an Amazon MP3 download app, and plugging the Droid into your PC and dragging and dropping files is easy. Sound quality is good, although the software player is rudimentary.

The video player, though, is unpleasant. It’s buried inside the “Gallery” app, and I had problems getting video files I transferred from my PC to play back accurately. Sometimes I got audio but no video; other times the player crashed altogether.

Camera: Playing back videos I recorded with the Droid’s built-in camera was painless, though. But the 5 megapixel camera isn’t great, and its autofocus struggles with nearby objects. Some people will complain about the lack of pinch-to-zoom and multitouch (although I think that’s overrated).

Keyboard: Flat, unspaced keys on the slide out keyboard make touch typing largely impractical, but the on-screen keyboard is excellent. You’ll probably end up using that.

The Droid is unapologetically brash and different. Despite some rough edges, it’s a standout device that deserves to be a big seller. Motorola Droid

Pros: Awesome screen, bold design and intuitive software make a great first impression.

Cons: If you’re a big music or video user, the Droid will feel limited and awkward.

Bottom line: Cellphone technology is advancing so rapidly that committing to a new handset is becoming intimidating, but the Droid seems built to last and Google’s track record of continually upgrading its software is undeniable. Just don’t call this an iPhone killer.